Nagasimha G. Rao is a self-confessed logophile. From his childhood on, he has been a reader and has read books across all genres. He has an extensive collection of over 3,000 books and the collection only seems to be growing by the day.
This is why Radio Active CR 90.MHz has decided to bring to you, a careful review of a new book every week from the perspective of Nagasimha. Make sure to tune into Active Bangalore every Saturday for a new, interesting book review.
This week, we talk about the classic favourite, Les Miserables. The book is arguably one of the greatest literary pieces ever written and is also one of Nagasimha’s favourites. Victor Hugo’s masterpiece is, according to him, a milestone in the history of world literature.
The story in the book enunciates the need for love and kindness in the human world. Through the story of a former convict, the book explores the mindset of criminals. The novel recounts the details of the French Revolution and the effect it had on the society. The importance of humanity is the central message of the book. The idea of harmony among all people is also shown in Les Miserables. The protagonist, Jean Valjean, is convicted to hard labour for a seemingly harmless reason and undergoes a series of tribulations that change how he views the world. An act of kindness towards him restores the humanity in him and changes him back to a compassionate person.

Reading the story is likely to have the same effect on us and the book is considered a classic for the same reason. It flawlessly points out the vices in the society and drives us to change what is wrong with the world.

Les Miserables is a must read for anyone who finds the mixture of history and fiction enticing and comes with a strong recommendation from Nagasimha.